R. domesticus

Rhodnius domesticus (Neiva & Pinto, 1923)

Distribution:

Brazil (Bahia, Espirito Santo, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Piauí, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)

Characteristics:

- length: 15-18 mm

- general color light orange-brown, with dark brown markings on several areas of body and appendages

- legs with coxae, trochantera, femora uniformly dark brown; tibia light brown with dark apical annulus. Slender.

- pronotum yellowish brown with portions dark brown or blackish

- connexivum light brown, with rectangular dark spots on segments dorsally

- head as long as or only slightly longer than pronotum

- process of pygophore rectangular

Biology:

- sylvatic species from Atlantic forest region of Brazil

- found in isolated instances in human habitations

- live in clumps of bromeliads close to shelters of the rodents Echimys blainvillei medius and E. dasythrix, Phynomys dasvelheix and of the marsupials Didelphis azarae and Micoureus demerarae. In palm treesAttalea sp.

- Natural infection with T. cruzi and T. rangeli

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Carcavallo RU, Galindez Giron, I, Jurberg, J & Lent H. 1998. Atlas of Chagas’ disease vectors in the Americas. Vol I, II, III. FioCruz Edition.

Dujardin JP, Schofield CJ & Panzera F. 2000. Les vecteurs de la maladie de Chagas. Recherches taxonomiques, biologiques et génétiques. Académie Royales des Sciences d'Outre-Mer.

Galvão C, Carcavallo R, Da Silva Rocha D & Jurberg J. 2003. A checklist of the current valid species of the subfamily Triatominae Jeannel, 1919 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) and their geographical distribution, with nomenclatural and taxonomic notes. Zootaxa, 202: 1-36.

Guarneri AA, Carvahlo Pinto CJ, Schofield CJ, Steindel M. 1998. Population biology of Rhodnius domesticus Neiva & Pinto, 1923 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 93(2): 273-276.

Lent H & Wygodzinsky P. 1979. Revision of the Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), and their significance as vectors of Chagas disease. Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist. 163 (Art. 3): 125-520.